Wastewater metals

Your discharge permit specifies the metals, the frequency and the method. Send it to the lab first, and they will confirm the right panel.

Pick the service

All three services use EPA 200.5 / 200.7 by ICP under NJ NELAP, with a standard turnaround of 5 to 7 business days. Results are reported against your permit limits, in a format accepted for NPDES discharge monitoring reports (DMRs).

What the rules expect

• Clean Water Act Section 402: all point source discharges need an NPDES permit. Permits typically set a daily maximum and a monthly average for metals, and most metals are monitored monthly to quarterly.
• 40 CFR Part 403: indirect dischargers must meet local limits before discharging to the POTW. Categorical standards apply to electroplating, metal finishing, food processing and circuit board manufacturing, and the local POTW may set stricter limits.
• Closure: site closure or permit termination needs exit sampling to document final discharge quality.

Getting it done

1. Send your NPDES permit or pretreatment programme. The lab reviews the parameters, frequency and method, and quotes within 24 hours.
2. Collect composite or grab samples as your permit requires, in the pre-cleaned, preserved containers the lab provides, and complete the COC.
3. Ship with the prepaid FedEx label. Preserved samples are stable for up to 6 months, and hold times are tracked on the COC.
4. You get ICP results compared with your permit limits.

Samples are accepted from anywhere in the US. To send your permit, contact the lab or email support@irislaboratories.com.